ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has cast doubt on at least one of Canberra's elite cricket fixtures for next summer, saying he won't pay for Manuka Oval "to be a television backdrop."
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Canberra secured three international matches as part of Cricket Australia's 2020-21 summer schedule, with Manuka Oval to host India in a Twenty20 World Cup warm-up on October 14.
The Australian women's team is scheduled to play a grand-final rematch against India on January 22 and the men's team will meet New Zealand in a 50-over clash the following week.
But the marquee fixture that would bring the likes of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith to Canberra is shrouded in uncertainly, with the T20 clash dependent on whether the World Cup goes ahead.
Cricket Australia has written to the International Cricket Council asking for the World Cup, which is scheduled for this October and November, to be delayed until 2021.
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A postponement of the tournament could cost Cricket Australia $20 million. They face a further loss of $50 million if crowds cannot attend international games next summer.
Deepening the blow, Chief Minister Barr has doubled down on his stance to not pay for sporting events without crowds because the government would not be able to generate revenue for the ACT economy.
"Our rationale for bringing and paying for major sports to come to Canberra is so that people can watch it live from the ground," Barr said.
"That is a strong, determining factor for us - how much you would pay for such content. In the end cricket will need to be played somewhere and there's not a huge amount of value in a cricket pitch as an advertising backdrop.
"It's real economic value is bums on seats, hotel nights and spends in our economy. That remains my position, we're not going to pay to be a television backdrop."
The ACT government, Cricket Australia and Cricket ACT were close to finalising a six-year content deal earlier this year, but those negotiations have been stalled amid the coronavirus crisis.
But Canberra could still be given a larger role to play next summer if interstate matches need to be relocated due to venue availability.
Cricket ACT boss James Allsopp says the capital is well placed to host more elite fixtures, given the territory has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 for more than three weeks and is without border restrictions.
"This schedule is subject to change and we're so well place to host more elite cricket if need be," Allsopp said.
"If you think about it, we've had no community transmission of COVID-19, nor had any active cases for three weeks now. We're smack bang in the middle of two major states that don't have border restrictions, so we're really well placed to host international cricket.
"The broadcasters as well are in Sydney and Melbourne, so there's a really strong case for Canberra to host more elite cricket. Even if it is behind closed doors, it certainly puts Canberra in the spotlight which I think is a really good thing for our community."
But any additional content brought to Manuka Oval won't be financially backed by the ACT government if crowds cannot attend.
"To the extent they would only be broadcasting, if that suited the broadcasters then fine. They can hire the ground, there's no problem with that," Barr said.
"I'm not going to pay for that though."
Planning of the traditional Prime Minister's XI fixture has been put on the backburner while governments and organisation turns their focus to more pressing matters amid the global pandemic.
The past two fixtures have been held in October, but it's unclear where the annual clash will fit in Cricket Australia's calendar this year.
Allsopp conceded the match might not go ahead next summer, given uncertainty around the international schedule and whether crowds can attend.
"I think like most games, there's a chance it might not go ahead," Allsopp said.
"We've been really respectful of the priorities of the government, at a local level in terms of negotiating a long term deal with Cricket Australia but with the Commonwealth as well.
"They've obviously got their hands full trying to keep our community safe and get the economy stimulated again.
"So to approach them about a PM's fixture is a low priority. When the time is right we can certainly have that conversation, but it's not yet and we have to be respectful about that."
CANBERRA'S SUMMER OF CRICKET
October 14: Australia men's v India at Manuka Oval
January 22: Australia women's v India at Manuka Oval
January 29: Australia men's v New Zealand at Manuka Oval
